Fleeing suspect found, Marblehead police say

ITEM PHOTO BY DAVID WILSONA string of patrol cars speed down Atlantic Avenue around 11:15 p.m.

By GAYLA CAWLEY and DAVID WILSON

MARBLEHEAD — A man who authorities say fled a traffic stop Wednesday night was located after a two-hour search and taken to the hospital to be treated for a mental health issue, according to Police Chief Robert Picariello.

The Marblehead Police Department, in a 9:22 p.m. Facebook post, asked residents to stay indoors as officers attempted to find the suspect in the area of Commercial and Walnut streets.

Shortly after 11 p.m., there was a visible police presence on Atlantic Avenue. The intersections at Chestnut, Central and Commercial streets appeared to be blocked by patrol cars. Chelmsford police were also on scene.

In their Facebook post, police asked residents to keep their dogs indoors as there were police K9s in the area attempting to track the suspect. Officers on foot were also checking through backyards, police said.

Additional resources were brought in, including a police helicopter and harbor patrol boats. The helicopter conducted low-altitude flights over Seaside Park down to The Landing, police said.

Marblehead police posted on Facebook at 11:22 p.m. that the suspect had been located. The department gave a “special thank you to all the law enforcement agencies that responded to the mutual aid request.”